Melissa Gilbert was seen supporting husband Timothy Busfield at a listening to in youngster intercourse abuse case.
Gilbert, 61, appeared at a courtroom in New Mexico on Tuesday, January 20, as a Bernalillo County decide determined whether or not Busfield, 68, can be launched from jail whereas awaiting trial. Gilbert was seen sitting within the entrance row of the courtroom behind Busfield, 68, who wore an orange jumpsuit.
Gilbert was named amongst 14 witnesses anticipated to handle the courtroom throughout Tuesday’s listening to. She has been married to Busfield since 2013.
Information broke earlier this month {that a} warrant was issued for Busfield’s arrest referring to allegations of kid sexual abuse by two twin brothers. The incidents outlined within the warrant obtained by Us Weekly allegedly occurred on the set of Fox’s The Cleansing Girl between 2022 and 2024.
Busfield finally turned himself in to authorities on January 13, claiming in a video shared with TMZ that he’ll “confront these lies.”
Melissa Gilbert attends a listening to within the Second District Judicial Courtroom on the Bernalillo County Courthouse on January 20, 2026 Sam Wasson/Getty Pictures
“I didn’t do something to these little boys,” he mentioned, including, “I’m going to battle it. I’m going to battle it with an ideal crew, and I’m going to be exonerated. I do know I’m as a result of that is all so mistaken and all lies.”
Busfield is dealing with two counts of sexual abuse involving a minor and one rely of kid abuse. In line with the Bernalillo County District Lawyer’s Workplace, the actor could possibly be sentenced to as much as 15 years in jail if convicted.
Gilbert beforehand voiced her assist for her husband in an announcement shared with Us on January 13.
“Throughout this era, her focus is on supporting and caring for his or her very massive household, as they navigate this second,” Gilbert’s rep mentioned. “Melissa stands with and helps her husband and can handle the general public at an applicable time.”
In a letter obtained by Us forward of Tuesday’s listening to, Gilbert urged the decide to assist hold Busfield “protected” whereas he stays behind bars.
“The fact is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my associate in enterprise and life,” she wrote, in keeping with courtroom paperwork. “He’s my consolation and my council. His pleasure, humor and fast wit carry sparkle to my life. Tim is, fairly merely, the beating coronary heart of our wild and fantastic prolonged household.”
Gilbert argued that Busfield “has the strongest ethical compass of any human I’ve ever identified” and has “devoted his non secular self to at all times being of service to others.” The actress mentioned Busfield leads with “kindness and compassion,” pointing particularly to how he “nurtured and guided” her youngest son, Michael, via his teen years.
“Your Honor, that is the strangest letter I’ve ever needed to write. I solely need this extraordinary man protected and complete,” she continued. “Please, please, handle my candy husband. As he’s my protector, I’m his, however I can’t shield him now and I feel that, greater than the rest, is what is actually breaking my coronary heart, I’m counting on [you] to guard him for me.”
